Carver Center’s new CDO is a Port Chester resident

The new Carver Center chief development officer is Port Chester’s own Britani Griffin, who worked for the community center from 2010-12 as a development officer.
Casey Watts|Westmore News

The Carver Center hired a past employee and Port Chester resident
to become their new chief development officer on Sept. 6.

Born and raised in P.C., Britani Griffin is excited to make a
difference in her hometown. She worked as a development officer for the Carver
Center from 2010-12 before she went to Columbia University for her master’s
degree and took a job in their Office of Alumni and Development. She was
recruited to this new position by Carver Center’s Chief Executive Officer
Joseph Kwasniewski. As chief development officer, Griffin is in charge of
writing grants and fundraising for the core programs of the center as well as
new ones.

“It’s nice to see kids walking around and teens walking around
for the afterschool programs or just to visit,” Griffin said. “I am seeing the
direct impact of the work I am doing. It’s cool to see that.”

Right now, Griffin is hard at work gearing up for annual fundraising
events for all of the center’s programs. After that is underway, she will be
working on Carver’s Spring Benefit Concert. Griffin is also looking into the
possibility of launching a rock & roll club for students who don’t feel
like they belong in the school music programs or don’t like playing classical
music.

“In terms of fundraising, the needs of our community are
changing,” Griffin said. Therefore, the services Carver Center offers also have
to change. “We have to seek grants to enhance and give clients the best
services we can to benefit their lives. You know you can come to the Carver
Center in your time of need and people will help you. I like the fact I can
fundraise the resources we need to be impactful.”

“It’s heartwarming,” the new CDO continued. “It’s knowing that
opportunities we’ve provided are opening so many possibilities to our children.
It’s nice to know in some way that I’m making a difference for people.”

“What I find unique about Port Chester is that you ended up here
because you heard about all the possibilities here. It’s nice we’re still a
resource and evolving with the needs of the community,” she concluded.

Although she left the center four years ago, Griffin still sees
some of the kids she used to teach in afterschool programs. It’s gratifying for
her to see them grown up and know that she can continue to be a part of their
and future kids’ developments.

Griffin feels honored that Kwasniewski
thought of her to be a part of the Carver Center team when the previous CDO
left her position to pursue another job. It warms Griffin’s heart to see
everyone working hard to make a difference in the community and to return to the
center. She finds it comforting to work with so many supportive people and
great colleagues.

“I couldn’t do the work I am doing without them,” Griffin said.

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